4 Unusual Honeymoon Destinations For Eco-Minded Couples

If you’re an eco-conscious couple, then it feels like the obvious end to your wedding celebrations to have an eco-friendly honeymoon.

These days, we all know how important it is to look after the planet as well as ourselves. But it’s not always that easy when you’re planning a honeymoon; after all, the very concept of jetting off to a far-away country to indulge in luxury is problematic for your carbon footprint.

But that’s not to say that it isn’t possible. You just need to put an extra bit of thought into planning your honeymoon — and your destination will play a big part. Pick the right one, and you’ll be able to enjoy a green honeymoon in a country that prides itself on sustainability, puts money back into the environment, and strives to minimize any negative impact on the planet.

In this post, we’ll be looking at four countries that make for slightly unusual but still amazing honeymoon destinations that are perfect for eco-minded couples.

Related: Environmentally Friendly Houses: Top Eco Homes in the World

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is probably the best eco-friendly destination in the world — and one of the most incredible places you can choose to visit on your honeymoon.

This small but mighty Central American destination is renowned for its sustainable energy use and commitment to the planet. The country fuels itself almost entirely on renewable energy; green energy sources like hydroelectricity, solar power, wind power, geothermal energy and biomass meet around 99% of Costa Rica’s energy needs. Not content with this alone, the country’s government aims to be the world’s first-ever completely carbon-neutral country by 2021, which you can read more about on Intelligent Living.

Plenty of effort is put into ecotourism in Costa Rica as well, meaning that you can enjoy all sorts of fun activities and Guided rainforest hikes

The country’s tourist board rewards responsible, green business practice too, so you can even enjoy a romantic getaway in indulgent spa resorts or luxury eco-lodges — like these Costa Rica hotels found on Anywhere — without worrying about your impact on the planet. There’s something extra special about enjoying relaxing massages, delicious food, and romantic sunsets from your balcony when you know you’re not harming the environment.

New Zealand

One for the adventure-seeking couples out there, New Zealand is a magical, if unusual, honeymoon destination.

New Zealand is full of awe-inspiring landscapes and undiscovered wilderness, which are ideal if you want to get back to nature and enjoy the green planet around you.

There are plenty of eco-resorts, natural retreats, river lodges, and treehouses to stay in, as you can see on this listicle from The Culture Trip. From there, you can explore rugged landscapes, icy mountains, deep blue lakes, alpine forests and other-worldly volcanic features.

If you’re worried about the environmental impact of flying over to New Zealand, you can sign up to a carbon offsetting scheme. Paying into one of these projects funds the planting of new trees that take the carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, offsetting your carbon emissions slowly but surely over time.

Sweden

Home of the most famous teenage environmental activist on the planet, Greta Thunberg, it’s not surprising that Sweden is a great honeymoon destination for eco-minded couples.

This progressive Scandinavian country believes sustainability is a way of life, with Swedes having the highest consumption of organic foods in the EU, regularly buying eco-labeled products, wearing organic apparel, and investing in innovative green technology.

Sweden’s recycling stats are pretty impressive too. Around 85% of all aluminum cans and bottles are recycled in a scheme in which consumers are given money back when they deposit their waste. So if you want to drink beer at your lakeside log cabin after a summer swim, you can be safe in the knowledge that you’re helping the planet (and you can even get more beer money).

The range of eco-tourism activities on offer is pretty incredible, too. Oyster and lobster 'safaris' on the coast, foraging for wild berries in the forests, dog-sledding in the snowy Arctic Circle, cycling through attractive towns, gazing up at the mesmerizing Northern Lights… They all make for wonderful honeymoon memories without harming the environment.

California

Going away on a honeymoon doesn’t always have to mean jet-setting off to the other side of the world. Sometimes, the most beautiful scenery can be found in your own backyard.

If you live in the US and you want to start off your marriage in as eco-friendly a way as possible, consider a “staycation” for your honeymoon and head to California. If you live in the state or another nearby, take a road trip with your new spouse to California’s dreamy coastline and save those air miles.

There is so much to do in California: head to gorgeous sandy beaches lined by palm trees for a relaxing honeymoon, travel into buzzing cities like San Francisco for culinary delights or go full tourist and wander around the iconic landmarks of glamorous LA. Wine lovers can spend their days visiting the vineyards of Napa Valley and sampling some amazing local produce.

It’s not too tough finding green and sustainable honeymoon accommodation in California, either; the state is pretty environmentally conscious, and many hotels offer the opportunity to relax in harmony with the planet.

As you can see, there are some amazing and unusual honeymoon destinations for eco-minded couples, each offering something completely different from the rest. Plan your trip-of-a-lifetime to one of these incredible countries, and your honeymoon will be both memorable and planet-friendly.